Ex-UK QB Tim Couch Finds Calling on TV

A disappointing NFL career after the Cleveland Browns made him the No. 1 overall selection in the 1999 draft didn’t sour former Kentucky star Tim Couch on football. In fact, he dove right in to a TV career analyzing it in 2009 for Fox Sports South, where he remains to this day.

“It has been a little bit of a surprise me figuring out just how much preparation time goes into something like this,” Couch told the UK blog Vaught’s Views in July 2012. “Just getting ready to having yourself mentally prepared to know these coaches, the players, the schemes. That was a surprise, but I enjoy it and it keeps me around the game and keeps me informed about the conference I played in and dearly love. It is a lot of fun for me to do this.”

The Browns tabbed Couch 15 years ago on the strength of his record-setting career with the Wildcats, highlighted by a 1998 senior season in which he was named a First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC and the SEC Player of the Year.

His brief pro career was highlighted by a 2002 season in which he threw for 18 TDs and led the Browns to their last playoff appearance. The following season Kelly Holcomb supplanted Couch as Cleveland’s starter, and after offseason stints with the Green Bay Packers (2004) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2007), Couch retired.

Tune in to the 2014 draft on Thursday night to see who joins Couch in the lexicon of top overall picks.